Sen. Richard Burr is introducing an amendment to the economic stimulus package that would end Congress' automatic pay increases.

"As the law is currently written, Congress has to hold a vote to disapprove an automatic pay raise. As you can guess, these votes don't happen too often," Burr wrote on his Senate blog.

He added, "With every American family tightening belts in these tough times, Congress needs to follow suit."

Burr's office doesn't know whether his amendment will get a vote in the Senate.

But he isn't alone in his suggestion. Two House members, Republican Ron Paul of Texas and Democrat Harry Mitchell of Arizona, have introduced legislation blocking the pay increase next year. Mitchell also tried to get it inserted into the House version of the stimulus bill.

And just last week, fellow Sen. Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat, re-introduced legislation forcing Congress to take a public vote on its increases. Feingold has long opposed the automatic pay hikes, and he says he has returned them to the Treasury since he was sworn-in in 1992.

Burr did not turn down the most recent pay increase. In January, he and other rank-and-file members of Congress received a $4,700 increase to bring their annual salaries to $174,000.

Burr's office says his amendment would apply to pay increases going forward.