DRUG-TREATMENT MEASURE WELL-FUNDED

Three wealthy out-of-state businessmen have contributed another
half-million dollars each to support the California ballot measure that
seeks to dramatically change how the criminal justice system handles
nonviolent drug users.

New York financier and philanthropist George Soros, Cleveland insurance
executive Peter Lewis and Phoenix adult-school president John Sperling each
gave $548,339 to the Yes on Proposition 36 campaign in the most recent
reporting period, ending Thursday, the Secretary of State's office said.

The three have given nearly $900,000 each to support Proposition 36, which
would mandate drug treatment instead of incarceration for anyone arrested
and convicted of being under the influence or in possession of drugs,
including harder substances such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.
The measure would allocate $120 million to fund the new treatment programs.

Opponents of the initiative have criticized the financial involvement of
Soros, Sperling and Lewis, the three of whom also financed California's
successful medical marijuana initiative of 1996 along with several similar
drug treatment measures around the country.

"It's pretty easy to raise money when you're going to three billionaires
with three checkbooks," said Ray McNally, the No on 36 spokesman. "I think
voters should pay careful attention to who's behind this."

McNally said the three businessmen ultimately want to legalize drugs. But
Yes on 36 campaign officials deny that, saying they want to get drug users
into treatment and deal with their underlying medical problems before they
become more serious offenders.

"Any way you slice it, we're still reformers challenging an enormous
system," Yes on 36 spokesman Dave Fratello said. "We're very happy to have
the support we have, but it's still a modest campaign."

The Yes on 36 campaign has raised a little more than $2.8 million to date,
the Secretary of State's office said.

Fratello said the new money would help pay for television advertisements in
the final week before the Nov. 7 election.

No on 36 forces said they raised $105,000 in the most recent reporting
period and $205,000 total for the campaign to date. Their biggest
contributor is Alex Spanos, a Stockton developer and owner of the San Diego
Chargers football team. Spanos has given $100,000.

"He sincerely believes this is bad public policy for California," McNally said.

The California Correctional Peace Officers Association also has contributed
$25,000 to the No on 36 campaign.