Paul Ryan: 'We Don't Have' Votes to Pass a Budget

House Speaker Paul Ryan is on the verge of failing to pass a budget, a setback reportedly highlighting the same internal GOP divisions that bedeviled his predecessor.

"You need the votes to pass a budget," the Wisconsin Republican told reporters Thursday, Politico reports. 

"We don’t have them right now."

According to CNN, Ryan doesn't need a budget since the two-year fiscal deal Ohio GOP Rep. John Boehner negotiated before stepping down as House Speaker last year set overall federal spending level for the next fiscal year.

"But the budget drama is a big political black eye for Ryan and his top lieutenants who promised a return to 'regular order' under his leadership," CNN reports.

Politico notes the House Republican Conference is divided over the Boehner budget deal, which raised budget caps to allow for more government spending, with conservatives preferring to keep across-the-board cuts known as sequester, enacted into law years ago.

"And since Ryan can't turn to Democrats for support due to policy riders often in the budget, he’s stuck," Politico reports.

Ryan isn't crying uncle just yet, Politico reports.

"I still want to pass a budget," he declared.

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