Increased energy costs, recreational marijuana use and sales, taxpayer-financed political campaigns to chill free speech and barriers on attracting and retaining top health care leadership talent could have been the new norm for Arizonans as a result of the 2016 election.

The choices that will decide the direction of our country, state and economy are being made right now. The most important thing we, as residents of Arizona and citizens of the United States, can do is cast our voice into the process.

Higher education provides substantial benefits to individuals and to society. Not only does higher education bring greater earning potential for students, but higher-educated workers typically pay more taxes which benefits the U.S. economy.

When the world’s largest producer of colostrum-based products needed more well-trained employees to expand its Phoenix operations, it looked to the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. And through its local business-concentrated Phoenix Forward initiative, it delivered.

“God made us neighbors. We should endeavor to be good neighbors.” Former Arizona Governor Paul Fannin, who created the Arizona-Mexico Commission and recognized the importance of good relations and commerce with our neighbors to the south, said that in 1959.

Hundreds of millions of eyes will be on our Valley for the Super Bowl. While Glendale’s University of Phoenix Stadium hosts the game, the entire Valley and state stand to benefit from an influx of visitors, media coverage and economic activity that can only be described as, well....super!

Arizonans went to the polls earlier this month to elect a new governor and decide who would represent them in many state offices and the United States Congress. Of the 35 legislative candidates that the Chamber’s Political Action Committee endorsed in the General Election, 34 won their races and will join or re-join the Arizona Legislature when the session begins in January. These candidates are committed to the same economic initiatives as the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce: economic growth, job creation and business retention.

The remarkable growth of the Internet over the last 20 years has largely been driven by technological advances, but proposed regulations threaten to put the brakes on this communications medium that has been a boon to business and consumers alike.

In the last two years, more than two dozen legislators who had received the support of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry during the 2012 elections fought the business community on two of its biggest policy battles — upholding Common Core and expanding Medicaid.

Motivated by the defeat of Proposition 204, a group of mayors wants to promote discussion about school funding and reforms.