Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined four former state governors this week in calling for voters to reject Proposition 5, a ballot initiative intended to steer more drug offenders into treatment rather than prison, the Los Angeles Times reported Oct. 31.

The current and former governors joined the state's prison-guards union, law-enforcement groups and many drug-court officials in opposing the ballot item; supporters include national drug-policy reform organizations and addiction treatment providers and physicians in California.

Schwarzenegger called Proposition 5 "a great threat to our neighborhoods ... It was written by those who care more about the rights of criminals." Former Gov. Gray Davis said the plan would "cost dollars and it will cost lives."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has also spoken out against the measure, telling voters in a recent commercial: "Say no to drug dealers."

Backers of the initiative -- which would add more funding for addiction treatment in California but has been criticized for allegedly undermining the state's drug-court system -- slammed the critics, accusing them of shilling for the prison guards. The Proposition 5 campaign has largely been underwritten by national funders like George Soros, while opposition is being spearheaded by the prison-guards union.