Meanwhile, in Texas, they’re chortling — mildly, not meanly — at our expense. This is from a Dallas Morning News editorial:

“Any way you slice it, Toyota’s decision to consolidate operations in North Texas is a huge coup. …

“Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere attributes the behind-the-scenes legwork securing the deal to Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus and the Dallas Regional Chamber, all of whom promoted North Texas’ economic strength, available land and lower cost of living. No doubt also playing significant roles were the closing power of $40 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund, other yet-to-be-specified incentives from Plano and the northern suburb’s strong school system.

“Some might not be comfortable with the idea of states wooing companies with wayward eyes from other states. But that is the way the game is played these days. States compete to attract and retain companies; those slow off the mark stand to lose major development opportunities.”

Toyota considered moving to Colorado

The DMN coverage also provided important context: Toyota didn’t just want out of California so it could be close to its manufacturing facilities in the South. This is one of the points brought up those who say this as no big deal. Toyota was also considering … Colorado! Not exactly home to a lot people who say “y’all.”

“Toyota wanted out of California for many reasons: high taxes, steep operations costs and unpredictable state politics. The automaker reportedly had kicked the tires on several locations in Texas as well as in Denver, Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C. And Toyota’s not the only one racing for the exits. In recent years, more than 250 companies have bolted from California, and relocation experts in that state say Texas was their No. 1 destination.

“’When you look at the whole package, it’s difficult to be a business here,’ said Torrance Mayor Frank Scotto, whose city is the big job loser in Toyota’s move to North Texas. …

“As companies leave California, many are finding new homes in Texas. Here are some of the latest announced moves:

” • Occidental Petroleum Corp. moving a portion of its operation from Los Angeles to Houston.

” • Raytheon Co. transferring its space and airborne systems unit to McKinney from Southern California.

” • Trend Micro Inc., a Tokyo-based security software company, moving its U.S. headquarters from the Silicon Valley to Irving.”

They won’t be the last. As I wrote in the U-T San Diego, it’s a metaphysical certainly that more big companies will leave a state that is indifferent to their presence for states that actually believe it is a good thing to help the private sector.

The plant now makes Teslas, a car that wouldn’t exist without massive government subsidies and credits. It’s the only car plant left in California. It’as basically a high-tech Trabi.

On the Toyota move, the L.A. Times reported about Occidental Petroleum and other companies fleeing California:

Like these other companies, Toyota could also save money in an environment of lower business taxes, real estate prices and cost of living.

Frank Scotto, Torrance’s mayor, said he had no warning of Toyota’s decision. He said he did know that the automaker planned a corporate announcement for Monday.

“When any major corporation is courted by another state, it’s very difficult to combat that,” Scotto said. “We don’t have the tools we need to keep major corporations here.”

The mayor said businesses bear higher costs in California for workers’ compensation and liability insurance, among other expenses.

And remember, almost all those several thousand Toyota jobs are middle-class jobs on which to raise a family. This is another indication that the middle class just isn’t welcome in California.

To change that, what’s needed, for starters, are: massive tax cuts, massive cuts in government waste, repealing AB 32 and the California Coastal Commission, strong pension reform and reducing the government workers’ unions’ lock-grip on government power.

That is, it’s not going to happen.