U.S. Congressman Mike Kelly visited the Erie News Now studios to tape the Insider public affairs program for this weekend.

While here, he weighed in on some of the top issues in Washington this week.

We asked Rep. Kelly is he thinks President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin can make progress toward peace in Friday's talks in Alaska. In short, he said, "no," because he the congressman doesn't trust Putin. "I don't think he's interested in making a deal with anybody on anything other than reclaiming what he believes belongs to Russia," Kelly said.  "I think at the end of the day he plays people.  I don't think agreements mean anything to him. I think he can say something at a table and then walk out of the room and say--they actually believe I'm going to do it and I'm not doing that," Congressman Kelly added.

New inflation numbers out show consumer prices were up 2.7% in July, from July one year ago.  Inflation is basically holding steady and  is lower than many economists expected, considering Trump tariff increases. Still, Rep. Kelly is not pleased with consumer prices, even if people are coping. "People have gotten used to those prices, I've got to tell you -- I'm not happy with them because I still think it's way too expensive, and it's hard for people because your wages aren't able to keep up with inflation and that makes it really difficult for a mom and dad to put food on the table for their kids, a roof over their heads and plan for the future," Congressman Kelly added.

The congressman did not have a lot to say on recent ICE raids in western Pennsylvania, including in Erie and at Emiliano's restaurants in Cranberry and Pittsburgh.  He strongly believes immigration is still in need of reforms and the U.S. needs to make it easier to attain citizenship.

Until then he said, "We have to be sure we know who's coming here we can't have this -- well they're here and we feel bad about it and they should be able to stay here -- I get that, I get that,  but at the end of the day my job is to make sure that our fellow citizens are as safe as they can possibly be."

You can see the full interview with Congressman Mike Kelly on the Insider this weekend, with host Lisa Adams.