SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate officially confirmed the state jobs of two former Democratic lame-duck representatives who voted at the last minute to approve the historic 2011 income-tax increase.

The Senate voted Wednesday to confirm the appointments of Robert Flider to head the Illinois Department of Agriculture and Michael Smith to a seat on the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. The two are among 12 lame-duck lawmakers who voted in January 2011 to hike the state income tax 67 percent on individuals and 46 percent on businesses.

Flider, who has served as an interim since his February appointment by Gov. Pat Quinn, was confirmed on a 33-16 vote to the job, which pays $133,273 a year.