Michigan's school social studies standards could eliminate references to Roe v. Wade, gay rights and climate change while also cutting down on references to the NAACP, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The newspaper reported on Thursday that the changes were influenced by Republican state Sen. Patrick Colbeck and have led to notable scrutiny.

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Colbeck, for example, reportedly influenced the decision to eliminate climate change references and wanted language about religious freedom included with any mention of civil rights for the LGBTQ community.

"I never, never suggested that we delete any references to anything like ... the stuff they're claiming," Colbeck, who was part of a focus group that recommended revisions, told the newspaper.

The Free Press noted that Democrats on the state education board are pledging to push back against the proposed changes. Other members who were involved in the revisions are threatening to withdraw their support, it added.

The final revisions are expected to be submitted before the board by August.

Linda Forward, senior executive policy adviser for the Michigan Department of Education whose office oversees the standards revision effort, insisted that no person had more sway than others.

"No one got everything that they wanted. And not one person was able to manipulate the process in any way to be a majority voice," she said. "Everybody in the room had voice."

But Gordon Andrews, executive director of the Michigan Council for History Education, said Colbeck had extensive influence, adding that the alterations the lawmaker wanted were "ahistorical" and ideologically driven.