The Truth about lobbying: Outside the beltway, lobbying is a dirty word. In reality lobbying serves an important function. Various groups both left and right slam the idea of lobbying, and some would even like to outlaw the activity. Without it, though, congressmen and Senators would be working in the dark. How could a Senator decide what was best for his state if he were not allowed to talk to the ten largest employers in his state? Think about it. What if congressmen were not allowed to have conversations with the representatives of city or county governments?