WASHINGTON — In a way, Congress again voted itself a pay raise Tuesday, this time to the tune of 1.9 percent, or $3,100. But members can all go home and tell voters they didn't really vote to boost their pay.

It just sort of happened automatically.

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, tried again — and failed again — to persuade his colleagues to reject the automatic congressional pay raise that is wrapped inside an appropriations bill.

"We are at war, and that requires shared sacrifices," Matheson said. "Let us send a signal to the American people that Congress gets it. A little belt-tightening wouldn't hurt anyone around here."

Matheson said the $8 trillion federal debt has put every man, woman and child "on the hook" for $26,000 in government debt. And he finds it ill-timed that lawmakers would be giving themselves pay raises.

Reps. Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop, both Utah Republicans, joined Matheson in supporting the procedural move. But in the end, 263 representatives voted to end debate while 152 voted with Matheson.

This is the fifth time in five years Matheson has attempted the procedural move on the House floor and the fifth time he has failed. This time around, he got 18 fewer votes than the 170 he got in a similar vote taken last September. If that motion were defeated, then Matheson could offer an amendment blocking the automatic pay increases.

Matheson's procedural approach is the only means whereby members of the House actually vote on their pay, which will stand at $165,200 in the 2006 fiscal year.

Matheson said he will again donate his pay raise to local Utah charities.

Without Matheson's annual efforts, congressional pay raises would quietly slip thorough the legislative process.

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