Proposition 32 purports to be an even-handed attempt to reduce the influence of special interests in California. It is anything but balanced. The most telling way to assess the motive and the effect of this initiative is to follow the money.

The bulk of the financial backing for Prop. 32 has come from conservative ideologues who have made no secret of their desire to tamp down the clout of labor unions. A group linked to the billionaire Koch brothers just poured $4 million into a committee just formed to help pass Prop. 32.

Meanwhile, organized labor has made defeat of Prop. 32 its highest priority in California because of what is unquestionably its most consequential element: A prohibition on the use of payroll deductions for political purposes. The measure would strip the unions of their ability to draw a steady stream of campaign cash from their membership.

The measure does not attempt to put similar constraints on the ability of corporations and other interests to raise money. It does prevent corporations from using payroll deductions - but, in reality, that is rarely where they go for political money.

Prop. 32 also would ban direct contributions to candidates from either corporations or labor unions. But in this case, the practical effect is seriously blunted by the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizen's United ruling that asserted the free-speech rights of corporations, labor unions and other organizations to spend unlimited amounts for or against candidates through independent campaigns. As we have seen in this election cycle, corporations and wealthy individuals are pouring staggering sums into such campaigns.

Gloria Romero, a former Democratic state senator from Los Angeles, has become an unlikely leading advocate for Prop. 32.

"We understand that the hand that feeds us is mostly public employee unions," she said of her fellow Democrats in Sacramento. "We want a rebalancing."

There is no question that organized labor has a powerful grip on the State Capitol, and that works against the public's interest on issues such as education reform, government efficiency and pension reform. But corporations also have great clout in Sacramento. If Prop. 32 really was likely to reduce corporate influence, then the major groups that often do battle with business interests - namely, consumer and environmental organizations - would be supporting it. They are strongly opposed. So are Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and other advocates of fair-play political reform.

Californians should see through the facade and vote no on 32.

What it does

Key elements of Prop. 32

-- Bans corporations and labor unions from making direct contributions to state and local candidates.

-- Prohibits contributions by government contractors to the politicians who control contracts awarded to them.

-- Bans automatic deductions by corporations, unions and government of employees' wages to be used for politics.