The budget follies continue in Springfield.

It's hard to know what to make of Gov. Pat Quinn's recent threat to close seven state facilities and lay off nearly 2,000 workers because he's made so many similar, but empty, threats before.

Like the shepherd boy who constantly cried wolf, Quinn has credibility that is near rock-bottom.

But here's one thing to keep in mind about Quinn and state spending: The governor always wants more, even in the face of the state's hugely burdensome multibillion-dollar debt.

And here's one more thing to keep in mind about continuing to spend money the state doesn't have — the longer state officials adhere to this irresponsible financial course of the past, the longer the state's fiscal affairs will remain in chaos. Illinois cannot address its financial woes by perpetuating its reckless spending habits.

As we've said many times, there's plenty of blame to go around for the state's disastrous finances. Democrats and Republicans, governors and state legislators — all of them — are equally complicit.

The recession and lagging recovery have made it worse. But the course was established by reckless spending during former Gov. George Ryan's years, followed by the insane spending that occurred under Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Quinn inherited a financial disaster in 2009 when he became governor following the removal of Blagojevich from office.

But he has shown virtually no appetite for dealing seriously with the problem, save for his repeatedly urging massive increases in the state's personal and corporate income tax rate.

Quinn finally got that tax increase in January, and it's producing a gusher of new revenue, money he wants to spend on ongoing programs despite past pledges to use it to pay down state debt.

Thankfully, however, legislative leaders, principally Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan and House Republican Leader Tom Cross, have concluded that the budget foolishness must end.

Those two, more than any others, were the architects of the state's $33.2 billion budget that the General Assembly approved earlier this year and took effect on July 1.

That's a lot of money, but it's $2 billion less than Quinn wanted. Madigan and Cross want to use any additional revenue to pay down state debt.

Nonetheless, Quinn has continued to agitate for more spending, as demonstrated by his promise to cut the people and programs if the General Assembly doesn't give him more money.

Maybe he's serious. But Madigan is serious, too, telling Quinn that he will consider reallocating budgeted funds but will not appropriate additional money.

There is no doubt that Illinois is in a world of hurt as a result of its self-inflicted budget wounds. How could it not be? But time has run out.

Illinois has to put its budget house in order if it's ever to get out of its current state of de facto bankruptcy. That requires holding the line on new spending.