Maine Republican lawmakers, in the minority in the Legislature, are saying they were left out of negotiations over a sweeping workers' compensation reform package, according to a local news report.

With a Democrat in the governor's office for the first time in eight years, Democrats this year introduced 27 bills designed to raise benefits and improve attorney fees. And even though they have a majority in both houses, lawmakers met with representatives from the state Chamber of Commerce on the proposed legislation.

But some Republican lawmakers said they were left out of the process, the Bangor Daily News reported Friday. A lobbyist for the chamber said a bipartisan task force on the compensation reforms should have invited more lawmakers to the table.

Now, the issue has become highly partisan in Legislature, the newspaper said, but it's not clear if that will threaten the bills, most of which are still in committee.