The National Black Caucus of State Legislators, led by Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, met with President Barack Obama earlier this week and pledged to support him in efforts to avoid the “fiscal cliff” and help middle class families.

“We will join you in calling upon Congress to raise revenue by asking those who can afford it to pay a little more in taxes, and to cut spending in a way that is smart and sustainable in the short and long term,” Ballard said after meeting with Obama at the White House on Tuesday.

“Preventing cuts to programs that are helping people is the only way to continue the progress we’ve all made on the path to economic recovery,” she said.

The NBCSL includes more than 650 legislators from 45 states.

Obama and Congress face a deadline in about three weeks to come up with a budget plan to avoid dramatic tax hikes and spending cuts.

Obama has called for higher taxes for households earning $250,000 per year or more, while Republican leaders have refused to raise tax rates.