Raised in Watertown, Massachusetts, Carmine was the first in his family to graduate college. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and his juris doctor from Suffolk University Law School. For the past 30 years, Carmine has represented children, parents and small businesses and has regularly provided free legal services for adults and children in need through his law firm in Framingham. While he has largely curtailed his practice to focus on his work as a legislator, his career as a lawyer has given Carmine an understanding of the wide variety of challenges faced by residents and businesses in the MetroWest.
The United States Supreme Court, in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, opened floodgates of spending by juridical (non-human) entities and billionaires in our state, federal and local elections and ballot questions. Throughout the country, bi-partisan groups of citizens have risen up to prepare and pass a 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution to nullify Citizens United and enable Congress and the state legislatures to regulate campaign spending by natural persons and other legal entities.
I co-presented H3208, with Representative David Viera (R) of Bourne, Resolutions for a United States constitutional amendment and a limited amendment proposing convention with 82 co-sponsors. It was voted favorably out of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs and awaits further action. Additionally, I was appointed by Speaker Robert A. DeLeo to the Citizens Commission Concerning a Constitutional Amendment for Government of the People. This was created by 1,871,989 or 71.4% of voters voting in favor of ballot question #2 in November 2018. We held 16 hearings from May 2019 through June 2020 and proposed two Amendments and a process for working with others throughout the country to achieve enactment to preserve our democracy by taking big money out of politics.