An effort to restore mileage reimbursements for Pittsburgh elected officials failed today.

City Councilwoman Tonya Payne proposed legislation that would allow elected officials to be reimbursed for as much as 300 miles a month of use of their personal cars on city business.

That would have reversed a March council vote to nix long-standing mileage reimbursements for the 11 elected city officials. The elimination of the reimbursements was part of a bitter squabble over legislation by Councilman Ricky Burgess to reduce the number of city employees with take-home cars.

"We knew we were giving it up. We should continue to give it up, because that was the price to be paid," said Mr. Burgess. "We did this to ourselves, therefore we should take the medicine."

Council voted 6-0 to table Ms. Payne's effort to bring back reimbursements. Even Ms. Payne voted to deep-freeze the bill. The vote means it won't likely be brought back soon.