A small group of Republicans, Tea Party members and independents gathered Thursday at U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop’s Albany office to urge Bishop to support the Republican plan to cut spending, cap the deficit, and balance the budget. The participants delivered personal letters to Bishop, a Democrat from Albany and Columbus. One of the letters read, “I’ve requested the same from our Republican Senators Isakson and Chambliss. Both parties have contributed to this problem; as well as American citizens who did not keep a close eye on how our money was being spent and did not hold our elected officials accountable.” PHOTO BY BILL WALLER.