Hawaii already has a huge welfare population that get “free” medical services. The working are mandated to be provided health insurance by employers. Hawaii has basically had Obamacare since the 70s. Of course covered Hawaii would fail. It was nothing more than Hawaii state taking the”free” money to employ a few cronies.
No, Hawaii didn’t basically have Obamacare since the 70’s. There was no individual mandate, an important distinction. The mandate was only on employers and then only for employees who worked over 20 hours per week.
It was still onerous but I would not characterize it as being like Obamacare.
I do agree that Hawaii has a huge welfare population, but on the health care side that is more from their huge Medicaid like program, largely funded from the Federal government (all taxpayers in the nation).