Iowa Grandparents Rights for Visitation to Grandchildren

I have operated the Iowa grandparents rights organization since 2006 and as an organization we were thrilled when Iowa finally passed a bill through both houses and it was signed and made part of our Iowa code that gave grandparents the right to petition the Iowa court system for visitation to grandchildren.  The bill meant for many grandparents the ability finally to present their case in court to try and get visitation to a denied grandchild.  It was passed in March of 2007 and the Iowa supreme court overturned the bill as unconstitutional and it has had a devastating impact on our elderly society.  The Dpartment of Human Services does not value the grandparent as a vidal member of a grandchild's life and when a child is taken from the parent or parents the child is then placed in fostercare or put up for adoption even when a grandparent is ready and able to raise the child.  In Iowa we have no rights to protect our own grandchildren from the state.  Our legislatures are willing to bring the situation back to the courts with an adapted bill but we need a minimum of 1000 signatures.  for more information on grandparents rights please go to http://www.examiner.com/x-9752-Des-Moines-Grandparenting-Examiner