[scott_s]

Funny how NIH projects could have a 20% cut when the $44 Billion reduction this year as a result of sequestration is 1% of the actual budget. Where did that other 19% come from?

That is a complete non-sequitur. The amount a grant from one federal entity is reduced is not limited to the same percentage as the total federal budget.

[etherael]

Totally true, if as a politician you want to manipulate your power base into believing that a small reduction in your power is a really bad move, you should make every possible administrative move to maximise the direct pain they will feel from that reduction.

Keep the fat and cut the muscle makes great sense when you are commanded to drop 1.5% of mass and you want to make the case you're going to lose a ton of strength.

That really doesn't help your case.