I have a Proposition for you, edition #32.

Proposition 32 looks like it's designed to stop special interest money from influencing politics in California.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  What it's designed to do and what would happen if elected are very different things altogether.

The idea seems sounds.  Stop unions and corporations from spending big dollars to influence legislation by restricting their ability to influence who gets elected to office.  The problem is that while it can and will stop unions from raising money from payroll deductions from their membership, it won't have any real impact on the spending by Super-PACs.  Further, even the restrictions on corporate political spending are probably unconstitutional in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in the case Citizens United vs FEC. 

Like any other political struggle over a ballot initiative, it helps to look at who is supporting the two sides of the issue.  On the side that favors passage of 32 are:

Charles Munger Jr., who has donated nearly $1 million to Yes on 32 at last count.
Jerry Perenchio who has donated $250,000 to Yes on 32 at last count.

Both are major donors to political campaigns on other issues and want to continue to be able to shape the political landscape and legislation through use of their money.  Why would they back an initiative that would limit their ability to do this?  Because it won't.  However, it will hamstring labor unions that oppose their efforts.

I have no issue with limiting the ability of unions to force their membership to support political campaigns through the deduction of money from their pay.  Unions shouldn't be able to collect anything from unwilling members with the exception of union dues in closed shops.  The argument about whether or not people should be forced to join a union to take a job is for another time.

Proposition 32 is opposed by:

The League of Women Voters (which says something)
California Common Cause
The former chair of the state Fair Political Practices Commission
Several labor organizations

Like I said, there's a good idea at the heart of this proposition, but it is ultimately flawed and will only increase the power of Super-PACS, which have too much power as it now.  I'm voting No, but you should study the issue for yourself and make your own decision.  This is just to give you some additional information that's not contained in the commercials taking up too much time on TV and radio.