ALBANY, N. Y. -- The chaos and confusion of Monday's coup at the state Capitol created the chance for some subtle Senate rule changes. Aided by the flipping of two dissident Democrats, the Republicans now claim they hold the majority in the coalition and are already shaking things up.

"We believe, on first cut (the new rules) are another step in the right direction," said NYPIRG Legislative Director Blair Horner.

Horner and League of Women Voters Legislative Director Barbara Bartoletti are still waiting for details but said changes like creating a New York State version of C-SPAN and even allocation of member item money, instead of a spoils system for the party in charge, could make a big difference for New Yorkers.

"So, little leagues in Senate majority districts would get as much as little leagues in Senate minority districts. And that would matter to the people that benefit from that program or any other program," Horner said.

"There are a lot of start up and elderly programs and daycare programs for which this will have real significance. But will they impact the everyday Joe Six Pack out there? Probably not," Bartoletti said.

She said most of the moves, like setting term limits on leadership positions, are really inside baseball and shouldn't be confused with real reforms.

"The league would much prefer that you use the term reform when you talk about campaign finance reform, when you talk about ethics reform, when you talk about some of the things that will reform the culture of Albany," Bartoletti said.

And the good government groups fear that because the political mutiny happened near the end of this session, it could lead to gridlock that'll get in the way of passing meaningful legislation.

"So there are key issues that are still hanging out there. And if they don't get addressed because one political party was trying to seize control against the other, the public has every right to be angry," Horner said.

Since the dispute over who's really running the show in the Senate could wind up in court or remain unsettled, these changes may never see the light of day.