Stop them before they legislate again.

If anything has become obvious about the state of the state of Illinois over the last year, it's that its finances could hardly be in worse shape.

Gov. Pat Quinn and state legislators recently approved a dramatic increase in personal and corporate income taxes, action that was quickly followed with the unfortunate news that more than $6 billion a year in new revenue the new taxes will generate is not nearly enough to solve our debt and deficit problems.

Illinois' finances are bad and won't get better anytime soon. There's not enough money to pay for current programs, let alone new ones. Still, not everyone understands.

Apparently oblivious to financial realities, state legislators have introduced bills in the General Assembly to create brand new bureaucracies, establish tax credits to appeal to various businesses and even create a permanent sales tax holiday as a prelude to the start of the fall school year.

Such is the nature of politics, where too many legislators feel compelled at all times to pass bills and spend money.

Comparing financial reality with this legislative wish list prompted state Sen. Matt Murphy to comment that "it's like living in a fantasy land."

It's hard to imagine that these proposals will get too far in the legislative process. Of course, it also was hard to imagine six months ago that legislators would approve a 66 percent state income tax increase.

But most legislators go to Springfield with the idea of rewarding loyal blocks of voters with cash from the state treasury. That's why the volume of Illinois laws has grown exponentially over the years.

Some of this could be window dressing.

Does state Rep. Mary Flowers really want to create a new state Department of Minority and Women Inclusion? Is state Rep. Monique Davis serious about establishing a new Department of Education to preside over the State Board of Education, Board of Higher Education and Community College Board?

Does state Rep. Jack Franks, who has complained bitterly about excessive state taxes and spending, actually advocate a 10-day permanent sales tax holiday for school-related purchases in August of each year? Do various legislators who say they want to offer tax credits to businesses to encourage hiring really think now is the time?

They say they do, so all people can do is take them at their word.

Tax increases one day and tax holidays the next are not just inconsistent, but foolish. Creating new education bureaucracies to oversee existing bureaucracies is more so.

This mindless legislating is not just self-defeating, it's crazy. But it's also disturbingly repetitious of what our legislators have been doing for the past 10 years. They've been spending money the state didn't have. That's why Illinois is broke, and, unless cooler heads prevail, it's why Illinois will stay broke.