WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement is from National League of Cities (NLC) President Marie Lopez Rogers, Mayor of Avondale, AZ, in response to the lack of progress in Washington, DC on reaching a budget compromise:

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"It is appalling and quite frustrating that our nation's leaders were unable to come together today or even over the past few months to craft an agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff. This inaction and uncertainty will have serious repercussions on our communities and our middle class families who stand to lose $50 - $100 out of their first paycheck in the new year. 

"The deadline for action is only a few days away, so we urge the President, the Senate, and the House to stay at the table until an agreement is reached. 

"We are also calling on city leaders across the country to call their representatives in Washington to demand that this be resolved in a balanced approach that preserves essential investments and programs in cities. Anything short of that will only shift the costs of maintaining important programs on to our families."

The National League of Cities is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

www.nlc.org

SOURCE National League of Cities