Ohioans have been hearing about the fiscal cliff a lot lately. The “cliff” applies to a January 1st deadline when the law, enacted by a bipartisan majority of both houses of Congress, requires a mix of spending cuts and tax increases. This sudden dose of austerity will put us on a long-term path to budget stability, but it will also send our nation into a recession for the better part of next year. Fortunately, there is an alternative.

We can reduce our nation’s deficit and avoid onerous tax increases on middle class Americans. Last July, the Senate voted to extend tax cuts for 99 percent of Ohioans—the working families and the middle class tax payers who need relief the most. Yet today, this bill that ends tax cuts for Americans making over $250,000 still languishes in the House of Representatives.

Middle class Ohioans have always worked hard and played by the rules—now it’s time that the wealthiest Americans paid their fair share too. That means it’s also time for the House of Representatives to act.