WASHINGTON - New York Sen. Charles Schumer is in line to chair the little-known Senate Rules Committee as part of a broader re-shuffling of committee assignments.

The Rules Committee has oversight of Senate office buildings, federal elections, and the purchase of books and manuscripts. As a member of the Senate Democratic leadership, Schumer helped guide his party's 2008 Senate campaigns.

The decision by Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia to step down as chairman of the Appropriations Committee has put a number of committee assignments in play.

The upshot is that Schumer will take over Rules from California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, according to legislative aides speaking on condition of anonymity because the proposed changes are still being discussed.