Nation IN BRIEF : MICHIGAN : Gov. Engler Targeted in Recall Petition

Leaders of a petition drive to recall Gov. John Engler turned in 641,142 signatures that state workers will begin checking on Monday, the state elections director said in Lansing, Mich. If all the signatures are valid, that is one more than the number needed to force the Republican governor to face a recall election. But a spokesman for the Committee to Recall Governor Engler said he does not believe there are enough valid signatures to force a vote, and the group plans to file a lawsuit challenging the 90-day limit on such petition drives. The recall campaign was launched May 20 to protest Engler’s proposed cuts in welfare and other state programs.