Lex Iulia Scipionis de Anonna Vulgi

Men of the Assembly, I come with a new proposal to you today. It is known that my previous bill was shamefully, nay, in complete disregard to popular problems, vetoed by some upstart Tribune whose name I don’t remember anymore.

Very well, now my legitimate concerns with the people have been raised again. As you might know, the People still starve on the streets. The Ludi Megalenses were not even enough for their hunger, and I am afraid many were not satisfied. Why? Because they are hungry, the mob is hungry; how can one neglect the needs of the mob in this critical moment? How, I ask? We must give them nourishment, enough for their lives, and that is not much, men of the Assembly, since the poor don’t need much, only the essential to live. That’s all that they ask, while lying like miserable beggars on the streets; they might enjoy the games when they come, but they are still hungry and desperate to survive. How can one neglect their needs and still call himself a Roman, a Roman who leaves others to starve while he gets rich; this is an absurd, and I am determined to correct it by all means.

Now, Men of the Assembly, my story is brief. I have upgraded my legislation to answer common concerns and to better serve the people, the hungry men and women on the street that can do nothing but wait for their deaths, painfully and slowly, while having nothing to eat. This misery, why is it tolerated yet? This must be changed!

The motivation behind this law is the same as the one behind my previous bill. How good it would be to see the Plebs smile with joy once they eat and drink while having fun amidst the Games. Oh yes, who would not be sensitive enough to rejoice? The Roman People, oh yes, the Roman People, so ignored, so exploited, so filled with suffering, will have a break in their lives for what they like the most.

Men of the Assembly, here is my proposal:

I. Each Aedile will have to provide an extra 50.000 Denarii minimum during their respective games. The money will be used to pay for free Grain to be distributed to the poorest Plebs during these games.
II. Aediles that do not provide the minimum amount as specified here without an acceptable justification will be fined in 60.000 Denarii.
III. This law, if approved, is only valid after the end of the current Aedile terms, or 645 AUC (OOC: 108 BC).
IV. Aediles must seek to provide the necessary funds for this dole by all means. This means that Aediles who do not have enough money will have to borrow it under normal conditions.


OOC Effects to this Bill:

I. Aediles who provide the minimum amount required (50.000) will receive a bonus of 5 Auctoritas for their necessary, but nevertheless popular act.
II. Apart from being fined, Aediles who do not provide their due minimum share without justification will lose 5 Auctoritas.
III. Aediles who provide the double of the minimum amount required will also receive an equivalent Auctoritas boost: 10 Auctoritas for 100.000 Denarii, 20 Auctoritas for 200.000 Denarii and so on.

~Cassius Julius Scipio