With the economy in a slide and the credit markets seized up, states are slashing budgets, eliminating jobs, putting major construction projects on hold and nervously waiting to see whether their shriveled pension funds recover. They are also weighing lawsuits against Wall Street firms. And at least one state , California , may ask Washington to come to the rescue. For the full story visit www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/oct/10/financial-crisis-states-slash-spending-budgets/