A controversial bill pushed by a powerful state senator seeking to gut a corruption-fighting watchdog agency has been abruptly pulled by its sponsor — Senate President Nick Scutari — according to published reports and several sources familiar with the legislation.

The bill, S4924 , sought to undercut the watchdog role of the Office of the State Comptroller , transferring much of its responsibilities to the State Commission of Investigation, or SCI.

The effort to downgrade the comptroller came in the wake of a series of blistering reports by the agency in recent years that have embarrassed or angered officials who have been targets of the comptroller.

The apparent withdrawal by Scutari, D-Union, followed a committee hearing last week that turned into a contentious and often bizar

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