Just when you thought it was safe to drive on our roads, Bacon Hill is at it again.

Bless their hearts. They want more money out of our wallets just after voting themselves big fat pay raises. For some inexplicable reason, our elected leaders think that Massachusetts drivers are the golden goose of never-ending tax dollars.

Rep. Brian Murray (D-Milford) is filing legislation to enact electronic tolling on roads across the state: “The bill would seek to direct the Registry of Motor Vehicles to install electronic gantry tolling systems on roadways other than the Massachusetts Turnpike, such as Route 3, 93, 128 at such rates that the registry may determine.”

If this bill is passed, the Registry would be empowered to toll us on every state road. With Charlie Baker as governor, you probably are not too worried about this legislation. However, what happens when a Democrat wins the Corner Office? At that point it would be akin to letting the fox into the henhouse.

But hey, it’s for the roads.

Lost is the fact that our toll roads were supposed to be temporary. We are also supposed to forget that the gas tax increased 3 cents per gallon three years ago. While we repealed the linkage of the gas tax to inflation at the ballot box, the 3 cent hike was left in place. Hence, Bacon Hill is getting more money from drivers.

The problem with Massachusetts roadways is not lack of tax dollars being collected. It’s the spending.

The 2016 Reason Foundation’s report on state highway systems shows how exorbitantly the commonwealth spends on roadways. According to the data, Massachusetts spend $74,000 on administrative costs per mile. We are third-highest in the nation and seven times the national average.

Overall, our state spends $675,000 per mile per year on road maintenance. Only Florida and New Jersey spend more than us. The average spending across the country is $161,000 per mile! That means our roads cost four times the national average. They are not four times the quality of our New Hampshire neighbors, who expend $186,000 per mile.

As someone who regularly drives the Massachusetts Turnpike, Murray is probably frustrated with paying the tolls. However, opening the door to open road tolling across the commonwealth is not the answer. It would be to end the tolls on the Pike and cut costs.

By filing this legislation, Murray is endorsing spending more than $675,000 per mile! Please call your legislators and ask them to oppose HD 1830.