WASHINGTON, Jan. 29  The annual raise for members of the House is on the verge of being eaten up in political payback.

Republicans, who were attacked by Democrats in the 2006 campaign for accepting annual raises while not increasing the federal minimum wage for 10 years, say they are inclined to oppose any increase for representatives. And Democrats say they are not likely to enact one on their own, which would open them to attack in the next campaign.

Republican leaders point a finger at the hard-hitting Democratic campaign operation of last year, saying Monday that making the raises a political issue violated a longtime unwritten agreement between the parties.

“It was absolutely understood and agreed to,” said Representative Roy Blunt of Missouri, the second-ranking Republican.