Published: Thursday, Jul. 1, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 4A

The state political watchdog agency is considering stiffer regulation of independent expenditure committees.

Independent expenditure committees spent nearly $17 million on races for the June 8 primary, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Such committees can raise and spend unlimited amounts but are prohibited from coordinating with campaigns.

Since tighter contribution limits for legislative and statewide candidates were enacted in 2000, these committees have spent more than $127 million.

“This level of uncontrolled special interest spending on both sides of the aisle has made the legal limits on contributions to candidates almost completely irrelevant,” FPPC Chairman Dan Schnur said in a statement.

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