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Obama to make a statement on fiscal cliff following meeting with top lawmakers.

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President Barack Obama speaks to reporters in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington after meeting with Congressional leaders regarding the fiscal cliff, Friday, Dec. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

WASHINGTON – The White House says President Barack Obama plans to make a statement following a meeting with congressional leaders on the fiscal cliff.

Obama met Friday for about an hour with House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.

The White House is trying to build support for a proposal it presented a week ago, when Obama urged lawmakers to preserve tax cuts for most Americans while letting rates rise on incomes above $250,000 a year. At the same time, Obama wants lawmakers to extend unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless.

Both sides are trying to prevent a toxic blend of middle-class tax increases and spending cuts from taking effect at the turn of the new year.

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