SPRINGFIELD - With little comment, the Illinois Senate gave a green light Thursday to Gov. Pat Quinn's picks to run key state agencies.

Among those confirmed to their jobs by the Senate were Michael Randle at the Department of Corrections, Michelle Saddler at the Department of Human Services, James Sledge at the Department of Central Management Services and Michael McGraith at the Department of Insurance.

The four were among dozens of appointees Quinn has made since taking office nine months ago.

Randle and Saddler each will make $150,000 annually. Sledge's salary is set at $142,000, while McGraith will earn $135,000.

Randle, a former top deputy in the Ohio prison system, has been serving as acting director since June. He is overseeing a plan to release about 1,000 non-violent prisoners from the state's overcrowded system.

The first inmates could be released early next month.

Saddler takes over one of the largest state agencies. The Department of Human Services provides programs and funding to low-income families, the developmentally disabled and people with mental health problems.

Saddler previously served as a policy director for Quinn.