Curia Session II - 193BC

[Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus]

Aye

[Proculus Lucius Regulus]

The stunning, muscled, perfectly toned proxy of P. Lucius Regulus votes AYE on the matter.

[Gaius Claudius Nero Liguricus]

After marking all votes, Consul Nero rises to speak

All votes are accounted for. The tally is as follows:

AYE

Allectus Fabius Maximus
Amulius Valerius Marius
Marcus Decius Bellicus
Gaius Cassius Vecellinus
Gaius Claudius Nero
Gaius Quinctilius Varus
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo
Hostus Lucretius Tricipitinus
Marcus Silvius Pastor
Postumus Caesonius Tacitus
Proculus Lucius Regulus
Titus Furius Pavo

The Ayes have it, and the Bill passes.

Next item is the maintenance of Rome for a total of 500,000 Denarii. I don't imagine there will be much debate on this, but I will allow a short time for some.

Beyond this, I will open the floor to anyone wanting to raise their own matters if they have any, and if no one speaks up, then this session will be brought to a close.

[Postumus Caesonius Tacitus]

WHEREAS by tradition the Senate has alloted the prerequisite funds to host yearly festivities in the city of Rome;

Be it enacted by the Senate of the Roman Republic in the Curia Hostilia assembled,
I. The Aediles are authorized to allocate up to 100,000 Denarii for the purpose of hosting Rome's festivities for the present year.

I'd like bring up funding for our festivals again for this year.

[Gaius Claudius Nero Liguricus]

Consul Nero rises to speak

Senator Tacitus,

I am in agreement that funding for the games should be provided in conjunction with the maintenance funding, and will amend the bill to represent that.

Maintenance of Rome - 500,000 Denarii
Aediles funding for games in Rome - 100,000

Total - 600,000 Denarii

[Allectus Fabius Maximus]

Proximus Maximus stands to speak

Good and Honest Conscript Fathers,

I believe this would be the third year in a row where infrastructure upkeep has been kept at the bare minimum to maintain public buildings and works in our fair City. I would suggest we instead spend 1,000,000 denarii to not just keep everything in good working order but also construct additional temples, aqueducts, and so on to keep the urban populace employed and to elevate the status of our great City.

[Postumus Caesonius Tacitus]

Senator Proximus Maximus,

Do you have a project in mind to focus on in particular? Former Consul Furius Pavo already spent much of his loot in major projects including a huge temple and consul Domitius Corbulo spent out of his own pocket to do restoration projects for Rome's temples. As for an aqueduct, that'd likely cost much more than a million. I guess we could fund a sewer expansion or something along those lines for 500,000 to a million though it might be more prudent to keep those funds in reserves while we see how things develop overseas especially in the far east?

[Proculus Lucius Regulus]

The hunky twink that was P. Lucius Regulus's proxy rose to speak.

"One million denarii seems excessive. Unless Rome is in some sort of unusual state of disrepair, instead of the regular state of disrepair, I see no need. Perhaps 100,000 denarii may be tacked on the end, but I would not give the suggestion much heed until my colleague has some specific project in mind. He mentioned the aqueducts, and I should like to hear about that if that was his intention."

[Postumus Caesonius Tacitus]

Conscript Fathers,

If we were to add on 100,000, I'd suggest putting it towards drainage and sewer expansion for the Cloaca Maxima. It'll probably require more funding in future years but it's something that Rome could certainly use.

[Allectus Fabius Maximus]

Proximus Maximus stands to speak

Conscript Fathers,

I did not have any specific public works projects in mind but I am willing to support those mentioned by other senators. An expansion of the Cloaca Maxima would indeed be a benefit to all Romans at all levels. However, I do not believe that would justify an additional 500,000 denarii in spending. I would also suggest strengthening the Servian Walls. Aside from that, a more secure supply of water is always good, though we would need to see where we can get a new source of water and how much aqueducts would cost.