The two parties had hoped to reach a consensus so the public could focus on a single proposal at a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in the State House. Instead, each side blamed the other for slowing down progress toward a compromise.

The 1st District currently forms a swath along the southern coast; the 2nd District covers the rest of Maine. The congressional district boundaries are redrawn after each 10-year census to leave an equal number of residents in each district to ensure equitable political representation.

A federal court has ordered the state to come up with a redistricting plan based on changes in the 2010 census sooner rather than later as Maine officials had wanted.

The latest Democratic plan shifts four more towns from the 1st District to the 2nd District, while moving two towns from the 2nd to the 1st. The end result is a population difference between the districts of three people. Their previous plan moved only one town, Vassalboro, from the 1st to the 2nd District.

The original Republican plan sought to shift the 1st District to the western edge of the state, which would change voting districts of more than 300,000 people. It also placed North Haven, the hometown of 1st District Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, in the 2nd District. Pingree called the plan “stunning” and “a disruptive plan that gerrymanders.”

She suggested the Republicans changed the boundaries to enhance the chances a GOP presidential candidate could win in the 2nd District and that a Republican challenger could beat incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud.

Republicans said their revised plan addresses Democratic concerns, including returning Pingree’s hometown to the 1st District. They said it divides Maine’s population as equally as possible, with a difference of only one person between the two districts, creates compact and contiguous districts and takes geographic boundaries into consideration.

The Legislature set an Aug. 31 deadline for the Reapportionment Commission to submit a plan; a special legislative session will take up the proposal Sept. 27. If the Legislature fails to approve a plan, the federal court will step in and impose one.

Republicans said they hope Democrats “will follow our lead of cooperation.”

“During every step of this process, Republicans on the Reapportionment Commission have demonstrated that they are willing to work with the Democrats, as long as any compromise adheres to the federal court order,” said Sen. Debra Plowman, R-Hampden, a commission member.

“We are disappointed Democrats have shown little interest in our efforts to reach out and come to a consensus,” the Republicans said in a statement.

Rep. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake and a commission member, said Democrats expect their Republican colleagues “to keep their word on pursuing compromise.”

“During the past week, we’ve heard from people across the state calling for a reasonable plan. We believe we’ve presented two,” Martin said.

The GOP said it anticipated discussions between the two sides during the weekend.