Romney opts against proclamation honoring 1972 birth control case

BOSTON --Gov. Mitt Romney is declining to issue a proclamation recognizing a landmark 1972 Supreme Court decision legalizing birth control for unmarried people -- the first time in 10 years a Massachusetts governor has taken a pass on the proclamation.

The decision is irking family planning and abortion rights activists. The case, Eisenstadt vs. Baird, is seen a precursor to the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

Last year Romney signed the proclamation, but deleted a reference to Roe v. Wade.

"It's a shame that Gov. Mitt Romney has missed this opportunity to show his support for increased access to birth control," said Melissa Kogut, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts.

Others accused Romney of trying to appeal to conservative Republican primary voters as he weighs a run for president in 2008.

"The constitutional right to privacy is settled law in this country," said Angus McQuilken, a spokesman for Planned Parenthood. "Every day that Mitt Romney gets closer to his presidential run, he is traveling further and further away from mainstream Americans."

Bill Baird, the plaintiff in Eisenstadt vs. Baird, issued a written statement accusing Romney of flip-flopping by refusing to issue the proclamation this year.

Romney communications director, Eric Fehrnstrom had another explanation.

"There should be no expectation on anyone's part that they are automatically entitled to a proclamation," Fehrnstrom said. "In Mr. Baird's case, he was unhappy and critical of the proclamation that was issued last year, and so we decided that things were best left alone."