When Democrats wrested control of both houses of Congress in 2006, the pro-life situation looked dire. It was anticipated Dems would try to knock off all pro-life riders on appropriations bills and pass anti-life legislation to boot.

None of that happened. Then last week the Senate even passed a ban against Indian Health Services funding for abortion.

Also last week the House stripped language that had been inserted in the U.S. relief package for AIDS in Africa (PEPFAR) that would have streamed funding to abortion groups.

These days the Democrat Congress sometimes appears as or more pro-life than a Republican Congress.

I asked 2 insiders what is going on. Here's what they told me....

From the Associated Press, March 2:

Activist-actor Martin Sheen will be honored by the University of Notre Dame with its Laetare Medal for his humanitarian work, the school announced Sunday.

Sheen, who played a U.S. president who was a Notre Dame graduate in the TV series "West Wing," is to receive the medal at the school's May 18 commencement.

Since 1883, the Laetare Medal has been awarded annually to a Catholic "whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the church and enriched the heritage of humanity."...

"He has used that celebrity to draw the attention of his fellow citizens to issues that cry out for redress, such as the plight of immigrant workers and homeless people, the waging of unjust war, the killing of the unborn and capital punishment," [university president Rev. John] Jenkins said....

On February 28 the Washington Post reported:

The Virginia Senate voted Wednesday to cut off state funding to Planned Parenthood of Virginia because it offers abortions....

Before excitement overtakes, I should warn this bill may not become law. It seems unlikely Gov. Timothy Kaine would sign it since he's a pro-abort who just rejected federal funds to teach abstinence. He would now cut off a main line to low-income contraceptive provision and compehensive sex ed? Doubtful, but pro-lifers should certainly push.

But 3 other points do make this development exciting....

Don't know what the weather's like by you, but it's bone-cold rainy here in grey Chicago this Monday morning. So here are some talented singing kids to upshift any moods needing such.

First up is 4-1/2-year-old Young Woong Ha, who won a Korean wunderkind contest last month singing a trilogy of Beatles classics, Hey Jude, Yesterday, and Love Me Do. Make sure not to skip the latter, beginning at 6:35:

Next up are the Cactus Cuties singing the National Anthem at a January Texas Tech basketball game. Can't believe such wonderful harmony coming from girls ranging in age from 8-13...

Most of you have not heard of Tim Goeglein, the White House liaison to pro-family policy groups in DC.

According to the New York Times, among other news sources:

A longtime aide to President Bush who wrote occasional guest columns for his hometown newspaper resigned on Friday evening after admitting that he had repeatedly plagiarized from other writers.

That was Tim. I have known Goeglein for several years and am sorry he plagiarized and feel bad he had to resign a high position in disgrace. But I'm not so sorry to see him gone.

Goeglein was a nice man, but it was common thought in the pro-family public policy circle that communication with Goeglein was 1-way. He disseminated information on President Bush's behalf to pro-family groups but did not necessarily return the favor....

This morning pro-life blogger extraordinaire Dawn Eden of The Dawn Patrol will appear on The Today Show at 10:30a EST.

Dawn will discuss her book, The Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On.

In conjunction with Dawn's Today Show appearance, MSNBC has published an article by Dawn, "The thrill of the chaste: In defense of sexless dating."

On the topic of female bloggers, I received an email last week from Women's Voices, Women Vote. In celebration of Women's History Month WVWV is running a contest through March 21 to pick the top 10 female bloggers.

I'd love to see a pro-lifer in that group. I sure wouldn't mind if it were me, but I'd be happy with any pro-life woman's face.

Click on the icon, right, to go to the voting link. Please forward the link to friends.

{HT for Dawn's Today Show appearance: Thomas Peters of The American Papist]